The Art Loeb Trail was officially dedicated November 9, 1969, named after Arthur J. Loeb (4/27/1914-12/5/1968) a conservationist, industrialist and member of the Carolina Mountain Club. A small plaque commemorating his legacy sits atop the prominent summit of Black Balsam Knob.

Despite its relatively short length, the Art Loeb trail has become a treasured North Carolina classic among other longer trails such as the Mountain to Sea trail, Appalachian Trail and the Foothills Trail. The Art Loeb, also abbreviated as the “ALT”, crosses 30 miles of the Pisgah National Forest, all within the Pisgah Ranger District. The trail runs from the Davidson River in Pisgah Forest, NC at it’s Southern Terminus to Camp Daniel Boone in Canton, NC at the North. The Northern portion of the trail travels through The Shining Rock Wilderness, a federally designated wilderness area encompassing over 18,000 acres. The elevation of the trail varies greatly from its lowest point along the banks of the Davidson River (2,100′) to the summit of Black Balsam Knob (6,214′). Along the way it traverses several peaks over 6,000’, among some of the highest in the Great Balsam Mountains. The Great Balsam Mountains are a subrange of the Blue Ridge Mountains which are themselves part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range.

Hiking the trail northbound (NOBO) the trail offers more than 8,000′ of elevation gain, while heading south (SOBO) is the “easier” direction at just over 7,300′ of climbing. Tackled from either direction a journey on the Art Loeb offers lots of big climbs, steep descents, and endless views in an incredibly diverse landscape. With proper planning and consideration people of all ages, fitness levels and ability can successfully complete a thru hike of the ALT or just enjoy a few miles on a day hike. Take in to account your level of fitness, stamina, outdoors experience and willingness to endure rough weather when planning a hike. Even for the most seasoned adventurers the Art Loeb offers a solid challenge.

Constantly changing terrain along the trail includes low elevation hardwood forest, rhododendron tunnels, rocky cliffs, open vistas, high elevation fir forests and exposed balds. Native trees, fruits and wildflowers are abundant. Streams, creeks and rivers occasionally punctuate the landscape along the way. A wide variety of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles and insects call this area home. Whether you are heading out for a short day hike, overnight camping trip or a multi-day thru hike, everything you need to plan a successful adventure can be found within this trip planning guide and on the detailed Art Loeb Trail Map. The Pocket Profile Art Loeb Trail Elevation Map from AntiGravityGear and the free MST Guide app are both good companions to this resource.

The Art Loeb trail is maintained through partnerships with the US Forest Service and volunteer and non-profit organizations like the Carolina Mountain Club, Appalachian Conservation Corps, The Pisgah Conservancy and other service organizations and individual volunteers. Consider making a monetary donation or volunteering to support the hard work and dedication it takes to keep all of our trails beautiful, safe and accessible.

Free parking is available at both primary trailheads and at several other points along the trail. Please be mindful not to block any roads, gates or trails with your vehicle. Sleeping in vehicles is not permitted at any trailhead parking areas or on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

You can avoid crowded parking areas by arriving early, carpooling when possible, visiting on a weekday, hiking off-season or by using a trail shuttle.

Southern Terminus at Davidson River (HWY 276) – There is a dedicated parking area for 25-30 vehicles at this popular trailhead. This is a popular parking lot and it fills up early, especially on weekends. If this lot is full, there is additional parking available across the highway at the Black Mountain trailhead as well as the nearby Pisgah Ranger Station. Parking is free at all three locations. Cell service is not reliable here but you can get better service quickly as you get closer to town, which is a short walk or drive. This is a paved road to a paved parking area. The trail starts past the information kiosk at the gated road at the far end of the parking area.

Northern Terminus at Camp Daniel Boone (Little East Fork Rd) – There is a dedicated parking area for 25-30 vehicles at this trailhead. Driving through Camp Daniel Boone past all the buildings, the parking area will be a large gravel lot on your left. Depending on the time of year, the camp may or may not be active. Drive slowly and be respectful of the staff and campers. You do not need to check in with the camp to park here and parking is FREE. There are private homes beyond the camp and trailhead parking area, please make sure you are not blocking the road and do not drive beyond the parking area on to private property. This parking area can get rough after heavy rains, but it is typically easily manage for any type of vehicle. This is a gravel road to a gravel parking area. The trail starts at the information kiosk near the entrance to the parking area.

Black Balsam Road (FS 816) – Accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 420 (Road Status & Closures) the ALT and MST both cross here at the peak of the road well before reaching the larger parking lot at the end of the road. This is the most popular and largest parking area available for hikers accessing the Art Loeb and other area trails. Parking is allowed along the roadside and at the designated parking area at the end of the road. If parking on the roadside, please make sure all wheels are off of the pavement and you are not blocking the road, gates or trails. This is a paved road to a paved parking area. You can reach the ALT via the Art Loeb Spur trail from the larger parking area near the beginning of the Ivestor Gap trail.

Blue Ridge Parkway – The Art Loeb Trail crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway near mile marker 421 below Silvermine Bald. There is very limited roadside parking for one or two vehicles with more parking at the nearby Fetterbush Overlook .5mi south on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a paved road with minimal roadside parking. This is a popular location for caching and resupplies, especially water during dry weather. Check the Road Status and Closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway if you plan to use it for shuttles, supply drops or trail access.

Davidson River Road (FS 475) – The Art Loeb Trail crosses Davidson River Road/FS475 at Gloucester Gap. This is a semi-rough gravel road which can close due to weather and there is very minimal roadside parking only. Not recommend for leaving vehicles overnight.

There are dozens of other trails and several forest service roads that intersect with the Art Loeb trail providing foot access. While not described in detail in this section, they are all included the Art Loeb Trail Map

Trail shuttles are available for reliable transportation and logistical support. Most hikers will meet the shuttle where they plan to finish their hike, leaving a vehicle and shuttling their group to another point on the trail, hiking back to their own vehicle. Rates and availability can vary among shuttle services.

Offering professionally guided hiking trips, gear rentals, bear canister rentals and other outdoor services.

There are several outdoors retailers and supply stores nearby. Some of them may rent bear resistant canisters.

There are grocery and convenience stores in the Pisgah Forest/Brevard area near the Southern terminus.

There are numerous campsites along the length of the Art Loeb Trail that can accommodate both tents and hammocks. There are also two newly rebuilt shelters, one at Deep Gap (south) and the other at Butter Gap. The size of the campsites and proximity to water sources can vary greatly, so check out the details of the site(s) you plan to use. Bear canisters are required north of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the Art Loeb trail. Camping is permitted anywhere in the Pisgah National forest as long as you are 1000ft from roads and 200ft from water sources, generally speaking. Try to use established campsites when possible and don’t create new fire rings. Camping is not permitted within the Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary.

There are no reservations or fees for the shelters or campsites, they are first come first served. The shelters tend to fill up early and are often used by larger groups so have a backup plan if you plan to use them. Camping is allowed outside the shelters and both shelters have metal fire rings, bear food storage and nearby water sources. You can view the location, coordinates, details, and photos all campsites and shelters on the Art Loeb Trail Map

Water can be one of the biggest challenges on the Art Loeb varying greatly in reliability and flow rate based on the season and recent weather conditions. There are a number of water sources on and in close proximity to the Art Loeb trail that flow year round. Others are seasonal and will not always be flowing. In dry weather it will be necessary to carry more water from the most reliable sources.

Carry at least 2 liters per person and filter, treat or boil all water before drinking or cooking. You can view the location, GPS coordinates, reliability, and photos of all water sources on the Art Loeb Trail Map

Many hikers use a GPS enabled device to navigate with an app like Gaia GPS, Avenza, AllTrails, etc. It’s always advisable to carry a map and compass as a backup and make sure you know how to use them. Check out this easy to follow video that shows the basics of wayfinding and navigating with a map and compass.

When reaching trail intersections and road crossings make sure to confirm you are staying on the correct trail and following your intended route and avoid unmarked social trails.

The Art Loeb is often broken down in to four distinct sections, starting from South to North.

Section 1: Davidson River to Gloucester Gap: 12.3 miles
The first section climbs directly from the Davidson River along the Shut-In Ridge. Within this section you will cross several forest service roads, climb up and over balds, traverse the base of Cedar Rock and pass by the Butter Gap Shelter before reaching Gloucester Gap where the trail crosses Davidson River Road (FS 475).

Section 2: Gloucester Gap to Black Balsam Road: 7.2 miles
Departing from Gloucester Gap the trail begins the long climb up Pilot Mountain which offers views in all directions from its summit. On the other side of Pilot Mountain you’ll pass the Deep Gap Shelter and continue climbing to cross the Blue Ridge Parkway. The landscape changes from hardwood forests to Fraser and Balsam fir trees. The Art Loeb meets the Mountains-to-Sea trail at Silvermine Bald and they overlap to reach Black Balsam Road.

Section 3: Black Balsam Road to Deep Gap: 6.8 miles
Crossing Black Balsam Road the trail continues over several prominent 6,000′ balds including Black Balsam and Tennent Mountain. Both offer stunning views as you walk along the ridgeline. The trail enters the Shining Rock Wilderness and continues to follow the steep ridgelines of Stairs Mountain and The Narrows before reaching Deep Gap at the Cold Mountain summit trail.

Section 4: Deep Gap to Camp Daniel Boone: 3.8 miles
The shortest section leaves Deep Gap and descends the mountain crossing several streams before reaching the northern terminus of the trail at Camp Daniel Boone.

For most of its length the Art Loeb is very well maintained and easy to follow. The majority of the trail is blazed with white 2×6 rectangles, however there are no trail blazes through the Shining Rock Wilderness in Section 3 (from Grassy Cove Top to Camp Daniel Boone). This section has a reputation for being somewhat confusing, especially the intersections around Ivestor Gap, Little East Fork and Shining Rock Gap. In the last few years, signs have been installed at most trail intersections in the wilderness area and other trailheads, making navigation and staying on trail much easier. There is detailed information for these intersections with turn by turn guidance and photos available as a GPX file to download to your device or on the Art Loeb Trail Map

The weather guide shows the current conditions at five locations across the trail: Davidson River, Camp Daniel Boone, Cold Mountain, Black Balsam and Shining Rock. For the most accurate weather forecast, use a dedicated app like Mountain Forecast

The weather on the Art Loeb is varied and conditions can change rapidly year round, especially at the higher elevations and along exposed ridges and balds. The temperate from the lowest to the highest points varies dramatically, usually by at least 10 degrees or more year round and storms can sit on top of the higher peaks for long periods. During fall and winter, below freezing temperatures overnight are common and wind chill can create subzero conditions. You should make sure your gear is appropriate for the conditions before heading out.

Make sure to check the Road Status and Closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway if you plan to use it for shuttles, supply drops or trail access.

CHECK CURRENT CONDITIONS ON THE TRAIL

A variety of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and insects call this area home. You may be lucky enough to spot larger animals like black bears, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, skunks, raccoons, opossum and turkeys. For the most part you are much more likely to encounter a variety of smaller creatures like birds, lizards, snakes, squirrels and insects.

Most native wildlife you may encounter on the Art Loeb trail is harmless and will actively try to avoid humans, however it’s important to always be cautious in areas where you could encounter wild animals. While rare, incidents do occur. For your safety and theirs, always observe wildlife from a safe distance, do not feed, approach, chase or try to touch animals. If your proximity to an animal is causing a change in its natural behavior, you are too close and should move father away.

Ticks & Stinging Insects
Several species of Ticks are found in Western NC. Ticks are active year round, even in winter when temperatures rise above freezing. Ticks bites can lead to serious illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Alpha-gal Syndrome, Lyme Disease and Ehrlichiosis. Check yourself for ticks regularly when on the trail and make sure to remove any you find completely and as quickly as possible. You may consider treating your clothing and equipment with a tick repellant such as permethrin. Learn more about protecting yourself and treating tick bites here. Wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are also common and active during warmer weather and often build nests in the ground making them hard to spot and easy to disturb. Keep a close eye out when you are walking.

Snakes
Out of dozens of different types of snakes that inhabit the area only two species are venomous and of special concern; Copperheads and Timber Rattlesnakes. Both species of snakes are commonly spotted in the region and Timber Rattlesnakes are protected under the N.C. Endangered Species Act. If you encounter any snake, give it plenty of space and don’t attempt to touch or move it. Minimize your chance of a snake bite by staying on trail, making noise as you walk and being careful to watch where you step, reach and sit. If bitten, move a safe distance away, try to identify the type of snake and seek medical attention immediately. Clean the wound with soap and water, remove any tight fitting clothing or jewelry, and keeping the bite below your heart. Stay calm until you can get emergency care.

Black Bears
Bears tend to get a bad reputation on the Art Loeb due to a few isolated incidents and general misunderstanding of bear behavior and the impacts human have on it. Black bears are typically non confrontational and avoid humans. While there are bears on the Art Loeb trail, bear sightings are fairly infrequent (especially compared to nearby urban areas) and negative human/bear encounters are even more rare. Two of the most common cause of these encounters are improper food/trash storage and off leash dogs. You can learn more about being “bear wise” at home and in the forest at bearwise.org

Avoid negative bear encounters by following these best practices:

If you are attacked by a black bear do not play dead, fight back. Most hikers do not carry bear spray on the ALT but you can carry it if you wish. You should report any negative bear encounters to wildlife officials or rangers as soon as possible.

Use a bear canister to store your food, garbage and any scented items like toothpaste, medications and bug spray. Bear canisters are required on the section of the ALT and adjacent trails north of the Blue Ridge Parkway and all of the Shining Rock Wilderness. It’s advisable to use them in other areas even where they are not required. If you are camping outside the designated areas where bear canisters are required, always hang your food at least 10ft above the ground and 5ft away from the trunk of a sturdy tree. The PCT hang is the best method for a bear hang.

Don’t eat, prepare or store food inside or around tents or shelters. Keep food secured when not eating or cooking and within reach and sight at all times when unsecured. Prepare, eat and store food a minimum of 100yds away from your campsite. Double check your campsite for food and trash before going to sleep. Never intentionally feed bears or other wildlife.

Keep pets on a leash and under your immediate physical control. Off leash dogs can provoke and chase bears and other wildlife potentially causing defensive behavior.

Hike in groups and make noise while you walk. Pay special attention around dawn and dusk when bears are most active. If you encounter a bear, stay calm and give it plenty of space. If the bear makes vocalizations, moves towards you, paws the ground or changes its normal behavior in any way, back away slowly while facing the bear, do not turn your back and do not run. If the bear continues pursuing you, throw rocks, sticks or any other non food items you have available.

If a bear enters your camp, you should alert any nearby parties and begin hazing the bear by making noise, banging pots, shining lights. Make yourself appear as large as possible and stay together. Try to prevent the bear from taking any food or equipment if you can do so safely. Most importantly, get away from the bear and make space for it to exit.

Make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations within the Pisgah National Forest and the Shining Rock Wilderness. This is not an exhaustive list and is in addition to local, state, and federal laws, regulations and guidelines.

Familiarize yourself with the 7 Leave No Trace Principles before you head out

Both the Pisgah National Forest and Shining Rock Wilderness are open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Access can be limited by closed roads, inclement weather or other circumstances. Plan ahead for your trip.

There are no permits, fees or registration required to hike or camp on the Art Loeb Trail. All parking areas are free.

Group size is limited to 10 people. Smaller groups are better.

Bear canisters are required on the section of the ALT and adjacent trails north of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s advisable to use them in other areas even where they are not required. If you are camping outside the designated areas where bear canisters are required, always hang your food at least 10ft above the ground and 4ft out from the trunk of a sturdy tree. The PCT method is the best recommended bear hang technique. There is a bear box at the Deep Gap shelter and bear hang cables at the Butter Gap shelter.

Utilize existing campsites when possible and do not create new fire rings. You are allowed to camp anywhere in the Pisgah National Forest as long as you are 100ft from water sources, 1000ft from roads (unless at a designated campsite) and as long as the site is not signed as “No Camping”. Camping is not permitted within the Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary.

No fires are permitted within the Shining Rock Wilderness area but camp stoves are allowed. Fires are permitted outside of the Shining Rock Wilderness area in established fire rings. Collecting dead and downed wood is permitted. Do not cut down live or standing trees. Always make sure to fully extinguish any campfires and never leave a fire unattended. Check for any local burning restrictions that may be in effect.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

• Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit.
• Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
• Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
• Repackage food to minimize waste.
• Use a map and compass or GPS to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• Durable surfaces include maintained trails and designated campsites, rock, gravel, sand, dry grasses or snow.
• Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
• Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.

Dispose of Waste Properly

• Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite, food preparation areas, and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter.
• Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible. Otherwise, deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
• Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

Leave What You Find

• Preserve the past: examine, photograph, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

• Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the environment. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
• Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
• Keep fires small. Only use down and dead wood from the ground that can be broken by hand.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.

Respect Wildlife

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, [habituates them to humans], and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.

Be considerate of other visitors

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
• Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
• Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
• Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
• Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.

Leave No Trace Seven Principles © 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org